Intended Audience
Designed for nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, dentists, office staff, transporters, and other healthcare or public safety responders who may care for a critically ill patient.
American Red Cross Healthcare Program
Basic Life
Support (BLS)
American Red Cross BLS is designed for healthcare professionals and professional responders who need to recognize cardiac arrest quickly, provide high-quality CPR, and use an AED in adult, child, and infant emergencies.
2-Year Certification
Instructor-Led + Blended
Healthcare & Professional Response
Quick Course Facts
What to know before registering for American Red Cross BLS.
Certification Period
BLS certification is valid for 2 years.
Time to Complete
Instructor-led full course minimum: 4.5 hours. Blended online average: about 1 hour 50 minutes, plus 2.5-hour skills session.
Completion Requirements
Students must complete all lessons, demonstrate required skills, participate in testing scenarios, pass one scenario as team leader, and score at least 84% on the final exam.
Choose Your Training Format
Select the course format that best fits your schedule and credential needs.
Most Common
Instructor-Led Full Course
Fully classroom-based training with lectures, guided discussion, videos, hands-on practice, testing scenarios, and the final exam.
- Best for first-time BLS students
- Strong fit for healthcare offices and teams
- Includes in-person coaching and scenario evaluation
Flexible Option
Blended Learning
Complete the online session first, including the online final exam, then attend the required in-person or eligible self-directed skills session.
- Good fit for busy healthcare professionals
- Reduces classroom seat time
- Still includes required skill competency testing
Renewal Path
Recertification / Challenge
Designed for students with a current or recently expired Red Cross BLS certificate or equivalent, depending on the course option selected.
- Recertification minimum: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Challenge minimum: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Requires current or recently expired qualifying BLS certification
Upcoming Red Cross BLS Classes
Register for an upcoming American Red Cross Basic Life Support course.
Course Schedule
No upcoming classes are posted yet.
Check back soon or contact us about private training.
Course Details
What This Course Covers
American Red Cross BLS trains responders to recognize cardiac arrest, deliver high-quality CPR, and use an AED for adults, children, and infants. It also addresses life-threatening emergencies that can lead to cardiac arrest, including respiratory arrest, drowning, opioid overdose, myocardial infarction, life-threatening bleeding, and obstructed airway.
Prerequisites
None for full instructor-led or blended full courses. Recertification and challenge require a current or recently expired qualifying BLS certificate.
Testing
Two testing scenarios required, with one passed as team leader, plus a final written exam with at least 84%.
Ratio
Course length calculations are based on a 9 to 1 participant-to-instructor ratio.
Materials
Participant manual, BLS code cards, pocket guide, Resuscitation Suite handbook, and Resuscitation Suite app.
Why It Matters
Built for High-Stakes Healthcare Response
This program is designed for clinicians and professional responders who may be called to manage a critically ill patient. It emphasizes teamwork, communication, feedback-driven improvement, and strong CPR/AED performance under pressure.
Best For
Nurses, physicians, EMS, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, transport staff, office staff, firefighters, law enforcement, and similar responders.
Focus
High-quality CPR, AED use, obstructed airway care, choking response, teamwork, and cardiac arrest management.
Science Base
Updated 2025 science guidelines guided by the Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, ILCOR CoSTR, Red Cross Healthcare Guidelines, and current research.
What You’ll Learn
Major topics covered in American Red Cross BLS training.
Core Resuscitation Skills
- Cardiac Arrest Chain of Survival
- High-quality CPR
- Adult, child, and infant compressions and ventilations
- Barrier device use
- AED purpose and application
Team Response
- Multiple-responder scenarios
- Interprofessional teamwork
- Communication during cardiac emergencies
- Continuous performance feedback
- Leading a team testing scenario
Life-Threatening Emergencies
- Respiratory arrest
- Drowning
- Opioid overdose
- Myocardial infarction
- Life-threatening bleeding
Airway & Choking
- Recognition of choking
- Initial actions for choking
- Adult choking relief
- Child choking relief
- Infant choking relief
Common Questions
Quick answers for students and employers considering American Red Cross BLS training.
Who is this class designed for?
This course is designed for healthcare professionals and professional responders
who directly care for patients or may be called on to care for a critically ill patient.
Do I need anything before taking the full course?
No. Full instructor-led and blended full BLS courses do not require prerequisites.
Recertification and challenge courses do have certificate eligibility requirements.
How long is BLS certification valid?
BLS certification is valid for 2 years.
Do I have to pass an exam?
Yes. Students must pass the final exam with at least 84% and successfully complete
required skill competency and testing scenarios.